Hey there, PoI readers! 🍡

It's your favorite crypto connoisseur, Mochi, back with another serving of tantalizing tech and web3 news. From Tether's celebrating 350M users and UAE's tax holiday to Symbiotic's social media mishap and HBO's Satoshi sleuthing, we've got a smorgasbord of digital delights. So, grab your favorite snack and let's dive into this crypto feast! 🎭🌐

INTEL BRIEF

🟧 Tether celebrates its 10th anniversary with a surge to 350 million users, reinforcing its dominance in the stablecoin market.

🟧 UAE exempts crypto transfers and conversions from VAT, retroactively applying the rule from January 1, 2018.

🟧 Symbiotic X account hacked, promoting a phishing site to steal user tokens.

🟧 Nick Szabo now leads as the potential Satoshi Nakamoto in HBO's upcoming Bitcoin documentary, according to Polymarket bets.

Tether Celebrates 10 Years with Massive 350 Million User Base

Tether's throwing itself quite the birthday bash! As it blows out the candles on its 10th anniversary cake, this stablecoin superstar is also celebrating a whopping 350 million users.

Imagine if every Tether user was a scoop of ice cream – we'd have enough to make the world's largest sundae! This frosty feat comes after a 24% surge in users over the past year. It's like Tether's been working out at the crypto gym, flexing those financial muscles.

Tether's not just playing in the kiddie pool anymore. With a market cap of $119.6 billion, it's doing cannonballs in the deep end of the stablecoin ocean. It's like the Godzilla of stablecoins, towering over its peers with a market cap that would make other cryptocurrencies green with envy.

And get this – Tether's got $97 billion in U.S. Treasuries. That's more than Germany, the UAE, and Australia combined! It's like Tether's playing Monopoly with real money, and it's definitely not passing "Go" without collecting its $200.

So, as Tether blows out its birthday candles, it's not just making a wish – it's granting them for millions of users worldwide. Here's to another decade of stable growth and maybe a few more scoops on that financial sundae!

Tether hits 350 million users on its 10th birthday, growing 24% in the last year.

With $119.6 billion market cap, Tether remains the top dog in the stablecoin pound.

Tether's $97 billion in U.S. Treasuries outpaces holdings of several countries.

UAE Exempts Crypto Transfers and Conversions from VAT

The United Arab Emirates is rolling out the red carpet for virtual assets, and it's not just a mirage in the desert. In a move that's sure to make hodlers everywhere say "Shukran!" (that's 'thank you' in Arabic), the UAE has decided to exempt cryptocurrency transfers and conversions from value-added tax (VAT).

This tax holiday isn't just starting now – it's like the UAE found a time machine and set it to January 1, 2018. That's right, folks, they're retroactively applying this rule. It's like getting a "Get Out of Tax Free" card for your crypto transactions from the past five years!

Now, before you start thinking the UAE is confusing "crypto" with "camels," let's break it down. The country defines virtual assets as anything digital that can be traded, converted, or used for investment. But don't try to sneak your Monopoly money in there – fiat currencies and financial securities are still playing by the old rules.

For all you crypto companies out there, it's time to dust off those old tax returns. The UAE is basically saying, "We VAT you to take another look at your books." (See what I did there?) You might be eligible for some sweet, sweet input tax recovery. It's like finding forgotten dirhams in your virtual back pocket!

So, whether you're trading Bitcoin in Burj Khalifa or swapping Ethereum in the Emirates, the UAE is making it clear: when it comes to crypto, they're not just building castles in the sand – they're building a crypto oasis!

UAE exempts crypto transfers and conversions from VAT, retroactively from Jan 1, 2018.

Virtual asset companies advised to review past tax returns for potential recoveries.

Move positions UAE as a more crypto-friendly jurisdiction for digital asset transactions.

Symbiotic X Account Hacked Promoting Dangerous Phishing Site

Hold onto your digital hats, folks! It seems the crypto world has been served another slice of hacking pie, and this time, Symbiotic X is the unfortunate recipient.

On October 5th, " Symbiotic's X account was compromised. The hackers, clearly not fans of subtle marketing, have been busy bees promoting a phishing site that's about as genuine as a $3 bill.

Here's the scoop: These digital desperados are dangling a tasty "points" checklist in front of unsuspecting users. It's like being offered free ice cream, only to find out it's made of sand. The link they're pushing leads to a site that's one letter off from the real deal - network-symbiotic[.]fi instead of symbiotic.fi. Talk about a game of crypto alphabet soup!

But wait, it gets better! Connect your wallet to this phony baloney site, and suddenly you're richer than Midas - in imaginary points, that is. It's like winning the lottery, if the lottery was run by a group of mischievous squirrels.

The cherry on top of this fraudulent sundae? A big, green "redeem" button that's about as safe as juggling chainsaws blindfolded. Push it with an empty wallet, and you'll get an error message sassier than a teenager told to clean their room.

Symbiotic X account hacked on October 5th, promoting a phishing site.

Fake site offers bogus "points" to lure users into connecting wallets.

Users warned to avoid interacting with any links from the compromised account.

Nick Szabo Leads Bets as Potential Satoshi in Upcoming HBO Documentary

The great Satoshi guessing game has taken another twist, and this time, Nick Szabo is riding high on the crypto carousel of speculation.

Polymarket, the crystal ball of the crypto world, has spoken, and it's giving Nick Szabo a 27.9% chance of being unveiled as Bitcoin's mysterious creator in HBO's upcoming documentary, Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery. It's like a high-stakes game of "Guess Who?" but with billions of dollars and the future of finance at stake!

Len Sassaman, previously the frontrunner with a whopping 68% odds, has seen his chances plummet faster than a bear market. Why? Well, it turns out being alive is a pretty crucial qualification for being confronted by a documentary maker. Who knew?

Speaking of confrontations, the documentary's producer, Cullen Hoback, has been playing crypto detective. He claims to have had a face-to-face with the person he believes is Satoshi. Talk about a Bitcoin blockbuster!

The "Other/Multiple" option is sitting pretty at 37%. Could this mean Satoshi is actually a crypto-collective? A blockchain boyband, perhaps?

As for Szabo, he's the brains behind Bit Gold, Bitcoin's cool but unsuccessful older sibling. It's like Bitcoin was the straight-A student while Bit Gold was the edgy dropout who gave it all the good ideas.

Nick Szabo now leads Polymarket bets as potential Satoshi in upcoming HBO documentary.

Documentary producer claims to have confronted person he believes is Satoshi.

"Other/Multiple" option still holds highest odds at 37%, keeping the mystery alive.

And that's a wrap, my lovely PoI readers! 💫 I hope this edition left you feeling informed, entertained, and maybe even a little bit savvier in the wild world of crypto. Remember to stay curious, stay vigilant, and keep your digital assets close (but your private keys closer). Until next time, this is Mochi, signing off with a virtual high-five and a side of mochi ice cream! 🍨🙌

P.S. Don't forget to share your thoughts, questions, and favorite crypto puns with us. Every voice matters in the PoI community, even if it's just to say you're HODLing on for dear life! 📣❤️ Share the newsletter and spread the crypto love!

🍨📰 Catch you in the next issue! 📰🍨